August 26th UPDATE
We are excited to announce that the 2020 EVL Half Marathon & 5k will go forward as live in-person event this year. Over the last few months we have worked with local authorities to put together a plan that will all for a safe and fun event for runners, the community, and race staff.
There will have to be a few changes in order keep everyone safe. Instead of a mass start for both the Half Marathon and 5k, we will have starting waves to limit the size of groups and allow for additional space at the start/finish line, on course, and in the Village of Ellicottville. During registration you will be required to select a race start window time. Additionally, there will be a limit on total entries compared to years past, roughly half of prior year’s entries.
As part of our safety plan, all participants will have to agree to the following requirements during registration. By instituting and enforcing these requirements we are confident of holding a safe event.
Runner Safety General Guidelines
- Always keep a social distance of 6 feet while in the entire general race area
- Please, no congregating in groups at any time
- Face coverings are required in the entire general race area until the runner crosses the starting line.
- Spectators will not be allowed at race venue.
- Runners will put face coverings back on after crossing the finish line
- Any entrant with fever, persistent cough, or with exposure to an individual who is / was COVID positive within 10 days of the event are asked not to race.
- Runners will “Trickle Start” during their start time window, more details below.
- Runners to remain in vehicles until immediately before their start time.
- Runners from states other than New York must abide by the travel restrictions instituted by the Department of Health – HERE
- Maintain a distance of 6 feet from other runners during the race.
- Due to state restrictions on gathering sizes we ask runners please leave the finish area and race site as soon as possible to make room for runners in the waves behind you. While normally we love runners to hang around and have a great time after the race; we want to make sure to limit any risk to our runners, staff, and volunteers, the community as well as obeying state COVID-19 guidelines.
- If runners can’t attend race due to state restrictions or exposure to covid, entry can be converted to the virtual race by 10/15/2020 but refunds will not be allowed.
- If these guidelines are not followed, runners will be removed from the results and prevented from attending future events.
Race Start/Finish Procedures
The start will be different than races in the past. Our goal is to keep everyone separated and give plenty of room on the course, runners will be required to sign up for a start window. Start times will have guidelines for estimated finish times to minimize passing on course. There will be no mass start, during start windows runners will be released one at a time.
Each start window will be 10 minutes long and we ask runners not to approach the start area before their window begins.
We will be using a “Trickle” start procedure. The idea is start one person at a time to provide space on the course and at the finish area.
- Runners not to approach the corral before start time.
- Runner can start anytime during start window.
- If there are runners at start corral, asked to stand on X painted on the ground.
- We will be starting runners roughly every 5 seconds. Once the runner reaches a traffic cone 50 feet after the start line it is ok to start running.
Start Corral Procedure
Additional Changes
We will have to alter a few other elements of the races:
- Race bibs will be mailed in advance of race day to avoid a crowding at packet pickup. Runners will pick up shirts in the finish chute after their race.
- While the post race party is one of the highlights of the race, there is not a safe way to hold this part of the event. Runners will be given finisher’s medals, snack bag, and water at the finish coral and asked to leave the area quickly as to avoid congestion.
- Water Stops – Runners will not be handed water at the stops. Drinks poured by race staff to be spaced out on tables for runners to grab. Race staff to remain behind tables to keep distance from runners.
While these procedures may seem a bit complicated, we held a small event in Mid August and plan to hold an additional small trial event in early October to fine tune our race day plan. We are excited to be able to hold the EVL Half and could not have gone forward without the help and support from the Village and Towns of Ellicottville and Mansfield, Ellicottville Police Department, Cattaraugus County Sheriff’s Department, Cattaraugus County Department of Transportation, and Cattaraugus County Department of Heath.
Thanks to all of you runners, we love putting on events and appreciate your support and trust!
Doug & Gwen Bush
Race Owners – Endurancefactor Events
August 26th UPDATE
We are excited to announce that the 2020 EVL Half Marathon & 5k will go forward as live in-person event this year. Over the last few months we have worked with local authorities to put together a plan that will all for a safe and fun event for runners, the community, and race staff.
There will have to be a few changes in order keep everyone safe. Instead of a mass start for both the Half Marathon and 5k, we will have starting waves to limit the size of groups and allow for additional space at the start/finish line, on course, and in the Village of Ellicottville. During registration you will be required to select a race start window time. Additionally, there will be a limit on total entries compared to years past, roughly half of prior year’s entries.
As part of our safety plan, all participants will have to agree to the following requirements during registration. By instituting and enforcing these requirements we are confident of holding a safe event.
Runner Safety General Guidelines
- Always keep a social distance of 6 feet while in the entire general race area
- Please, no congregating in groups at any time
- Face coverings are required in the entire general race area until the runner crosses the starting line.
- Spectators will not be allowed at race venue.
- Runners will put face coverings back on after crossing the finish line
- Any entrant with fever, persistent cough, or with exposure to an individual who is / was COVID positive within 10 days of the event are asked not to race.
- Runners will “Trickle Start” during their start time window, more details below.
- Runners to remain in vehicles until immediately before their start time.
- Runners from states other than New York must abide by the travel restrictions instituted by the Department of Health – HERE
- Maintain a distance of 6 feet from other runners during the race.
- Due to state restrictions on gathering sizes we ask runners please leave the finish area and race site as soon as possible to make room for runners in the waves behind you. While normally we love runners to hang around and have a great time after the race; we want to make sure to limit any risk to our runners, staff, and volunteers, the community as well as obeying state COVID-19 guidelines.
- If runners can’t attend race due to state restrictions or exposure to covid, entry can be converted to virtual race but refunds will not be allowed.
- If these guidelines are not followed, runners will be removed from the results and prevented from attending future events.
Race Start/Finish Procedures
The start will be different than races in the past. Our goal is to keep everyone separated and give plenty of room on the course, runners will be required to sign up for a start window. Start times will have guidelines for estimated finish times to minimize passing on course. There will be no mass start, during start windows runners will be released one at a time.
Each start window will be 10 minutes long and we ask runners not to approach the start area before their window begins.
We will be using a “Trickle” start procedure. The idea is start one person at a time to provide space on the course and at the finish area.
- Runners not to approach the corral before start time.
- Runner can start anytime during start window.
- If there are runners at start corral, asked to stand on X painted on the ground.
- We will be starting runners roughly every 5 seconds. Once the runner reaches a traffic cone 50 feet after the start line it is ok to start running.
Start Corral Procedure
Additional Changes
We will have to alter a few other elements of the races:
- Race bibs will be mailed in advance of race day to avoid a crowding at packet pickup. Runners will pick up shirts in the finish chute after their race.
- While the post race party is one of the highlights of the race, there is not a safe way to hold this part of the event. Runners will be given finisher’s medals, snack bag, and water at the finish coral and asked to leave the area quickly as to avoid congestion.
- Water Stops – Runners will not be handed water at the stops. Drinks poured by race staff to be spaced out on tables for runners to grab. Race staff to remain behind tables to keep distance from runners.
While these procedures may seem a bit complicated, we held a small event in Mid August and plan to hold an additional small trial event in early October to fine tune our race day plan. We are excited to be able to hold the EVL Half and could not have gone forward without the help and support from the Village and Towns of Ellicottville and Mansfield, Ellicottville Police Department, Cattaraugus County Sheriff’s Department, Cattaraugus County Department of Transportation, and Cattaraugus County Department of Heath.
Thanks to all of you runners, we love putting on events and appreciate your support and trust!
Doug & Gwen Bush
Race Owners – Endurancefactor Events